Burglar-alarm



NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN FOWLER AND PLEASANT N. GREEN, OF UNION CITY, TENNESSEE.

BURGLAR-ALA'RM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,739, dated August 23, 1898.

Application filed October 16, 1897. Serial No. 655,473., (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALLEN FOWLER and PLEASANT N. GREEN, citizens of the United States, residing at Union City, in the county of Obion and State of Tennessee, havejinvented certain new and usefullmprovements in Burglar- Alarms; and we'do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

The invention is a burglar-alarm; and it comprises a peculiarly-constructed device to be attached to a window-sill or door of a house or dwelling, the device containing a cartridge, which is charged or loaded with an explosive and with some offensive material, and mechanism for exploding or discharging the same by the operation of raising a window or opening a door. 7

The objects of the invention are to cause an alarm and also to discharge the ofiensive material over the person or clothing of a burglar, so that he may be subsequently identified or disabled.

The invention will now be described in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms that any person familiar with the art may make, construct, and use the same.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of this specification, and on which like letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the diiferent views, Figure l is a perspective view of the alarm as applied to a window. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the two parts of the inside of the alarm sep arated, showing the mechanism for discharging the cartridge set or cooked and ready to be operated. Fig. 3 is a plan showing the means for setting the discharging mechanism, and Fig. A is a perspective view of the clamp for screwing the alarm in place. 7

Referring again to the drawings, A represents one part of the casing, and B the other part. The casingis of any suitable shape, and is here shown as in the form of a parallelogram. The part A has vertical end flanges a a and a stepped inner surface, as shown at 0. with a narrow flange 01. at one side. The surface a has also end flanges a a and locking-lugs a projecting therefrom.

The cartridge discharging or firing mechanism comprises, essentially, four parts--viz., the spring 1, the hammer 2, the trigger 3, and the dog 4.

The spring 1 is shown as a leaf-spring, and it is seamed at one end adjacent to the side a in the part A of the casing. It is notched at its free end to receive a proper coupling 5, which connects it to the long arm of the hammer 2. V

The spring shown is best adapted for the purpose; but we use any equivalent form of spring.

The hammer 2 is formed with a relatively long arm and a lug or projection near the end thereof,which gives the blow or impact which discharges the cartridge. The end of the hammer may be shaped to discharge or ex plodeeither a rim or central fire cartridge. Adjacent to the lug or projection is a short extension, which, with the lug, forms a notch to engage the end of the trigger. The hammer is pivoted at a suitablepoint on the surface a of the casing A. A stop 6 on the easing limits the blow of the hammer.

The trigger 3 is pivoted near its center to the center of the casing A and is somewhat of the form of a pistol or gun trigger and, as already intimated, is adapted to engage with one end of the hammer when set or cocked.

The dog 4-is of usual form and is jointed to the casing A at the end opposite the hammer and its free end underneath the free end of the trigger, and when operated it releases the trigger from the end of the hammer, the long arm of the latter then being drawn away by the action of the spring 1, delivers the blow or impact, and discharges or explodes the cartridge which is in line with it, as will be presently described. A string or a chain is connected to the free end of the dogat for operating it. Rods or pins 7 8 project from the hammer and trigger, respectively, and these rods or pins passthrough segmental slots in the part B of the casing, so that the mechanism may be set or cooked, as will be herein= after explained.

The part B of the casing is formed to fit the part A and leave sufiicient space for the discharging mechanism to be operated and is provided with a notch at each end to receive the lugs a on the part A, and thus hold the parts together. The part B has also a transverse hole adapted to contain a suitable cartridge O, and the hole or aperture is so arranged that when a cartridge is inserted therein the head or percussion end of the same will be in position to receive the blow of the hammer when it shall be operated. The hole or chamber on the cartridge may be inclined, so that the contents of the cartridge will be discharged in an upward direction. A notch 19 is also provided for the passage therethrough of the cord or chain by which the dog is op-' erated to release the trigger and to cause the hammer to deliver the blow and explode the cartridge.

. Segmental slots Z9 Z) are cut through the part B, and the rods or pins attached to the hammer and trigger project through these slots for setting or cocking the discharging mechanism.

In Fig.4 we have shown a clampD for clamping the alarm to a window or door at any suitable point therein. This clamp is essentially triangular in form, but without a base, and it is provided at its apex and on the end of the legs with right-angled clamping-arms D D D The arm D is tapped and provided with a set-screw, and it will be apparent that it maybe used either side upthat is to say, with the one clamping-arm at the top and two at the bottom, or vice versa.

The cartridge to be used will contain some proper explosive to be ignited by percussion, and it also preferably contains some offensive material, as iodoform, ammonia, asafetida, cayenne pepper, 850. An explosive will give an alarm without the use of the offensive material.

. The operation of the alarm will be readily understood from the foregoing descriptions. The device having been clamped to a window-sill-for example, as shown in the drawings-the string, cord, or chain thereof is secured at a proper point on the sash, leaving a little slack therein, so that any suficient movement of the latter releases the trigger, operates the hammer, and explodes the cartridge. The noise of the discharge is of course to awaken sleeping persons or if awake to call attention to the fact that burglars are about, and the discharge of the offensive material on the person or clothing of the burglar by means thereof may be apprehended and identified or partially disabled. 7

Minor changes in the details of the structure may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus fully described the invention, what we claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A burglar alarm comprising a casing containing a cartridge charged with an explosive and asafetida or equivalent noxious material, mechanism for discharging the cartridge consisting of ahammer pivoted to the casing near its end opposite the hammer, a spring to which the extreme end of the hammer is secured, a trigger about centrally pivoted and engaging a notch on the free end of the hammer, a dog for operating the trigger said dog being pivoted to the casing at one end and having a cord or chain at its oppo site end for releasing the trigger by any movement of a window or door to which said cord or chain is secured,substantially as described.

"2. A burglar alarm comprising a casing holding a cartridge charged with an explosive and an offensive material, the end of said cartridge projecting from one side of the easing and a discharging mechanism comprising a trigger, a spring-actuated hammer, a string or cord actuated dog,and rods both on the hammer and trigger, projecting through segmental slots in the casing for setting or cocking the discharging or firing mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signaturesin presence of two witnesses.

ALLEN FOWLER. PLEASANT N. GREEN. Witnesses:

W. W. NORMAN, J. W. BURNEY. 

